Switches & Spices

Chapter Seventeen

TW: Lemonade, Abusive Relationship

"Just hush and eat, Izu. Let us take care of you, okay? Need my Sun shining brightly again."

Simple fruits and sandwiches hadn't tasted this good in a while. Tamaki had picked out a few different kinds with what was left in the fridge, commenting that he and Eijiro could go to pick more food up in the morning before they left for their shift. I had of course grumbled loudly at the suggestion, pouting as they teasingly ignored me.

Making a list up between them as I nibbled on a bit of cheese, I was quietly sulking, though feeling at ease, knowing how much they cared. Eiji had teased briefly about getting chicken, and I scowled before dumping water over his head, breaking out into soft laughter with his dramatic response as he wilted back against the side of the tub.

My side felt much better with the blood beneath the surface dispersed and flooding into the rest of my body, though my ribs were still aching off and on. I had been lucky they weren't completely broken, as my inner organs would've been in danger. Cracks were a pain to deal with, but it wasn't the first time. Probably wouldn't be the last, either. I just hoped that they would heal quickly enough that the patrol night after next would be almost pain-free, not knowing how it would feel to fly with them just yet.

I was downed for a week last time, but those were full breaks and I had to be hospitalized. The mending had been sped up, but my body was incredibly weak at the time, too exhausted with back-to-back missions wearing me down.

I wrinkled my nose in memory of the 'diet' I had been given while there, finally begging Keigo to sneak in some of his favorite fried chicken instead of that disgusting food. Yeah. That bad. Green jello haunted my taste buds for weeks after. Hospitals shouldn't be allowed to serve that gross shit. At least they couldn't mess up apple juice...

I felt my body shudder involuntarily, grumbling as I munched on an apple slice. Tamaki had done that cute little thing where he cut them to look like little bugs with wings flared up, and both me and Eijiro had teased him about how precious it was. He got so embarrassed he ended up lightly punching Eiji's shoulder, the room filled with bright laughter again as he whined and hid in my neck.

The hour was tender and sweet, taking turns feeding one another as we took comfort in intimate yet non-sexual nakedness, Tamaki's leggings pulled off and folded to the side, the water pulled from them. Of course, there were sensitive brushes here and there, though gentle kisses comforted any hesitance from the movements. My own boyshorts were discarded to the side once I promised both of them I felt more than comfortable enough to do so.

I had tugged those off with the water, drying them and enjoying the bareness of flesh to flesh. Sure, I still had to deal with my own heat, but the softness of the time with the eating and light banter made it settle back out, able to ignore it easily with gentle touches and kisses as we shared the light meal. On my orders of course, as they had tried to make it to where I was the only one to eat. I wasn't having any of that.

Finally finishing off the food, my stomach filled for the first time in a while, the position we were in shifted slightly. Eijiro leaned back against the sloping side; I rested on my back against his front and my wings folded out and around Tamaki a little; and Tamaki shyly smiled as he leaned against my front, his arms carefully settled around my waist as his head nestled above my heart. It was soft and peaceful, willing myself to take another mental screenshot of the moment. It was all so fast, but it just felt right.

I knew we were turning into prunes, but I didn't care in the least. It was incredibly comfortable and warm, the mixture of everyone's scents combining with the rose oil making me want to doze back off again in bliss. They didn't have complaints either, just basking in the warmth and comfort.